Trough fastener



July 12, 1932. KU F 1,867,460

TROUGH FASTENER Filed Aug. 19, 1950 ad gmw Patented July 12, 1932 UNITED STATE S PATE BROTHERS COIflPANY, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PEN N S YLVAN IA THOUGH FASTEN ZER Application filed August 19, 1930. Serial No..4=76,332.

The present invention relates to trough fasteners or supporting devices, such as are commonly used to fasten an eaves trough adjustabl'y but securely to the edge of a roof. The function of such a device 1s, of course,

to catch water running off, or dripping from,

the roof and to conduct it to a suitable pipe or spout. The general purpose of the invention is to provide an improved device of the class indicated which is simple in construction and, therefore, is easily and cheap-' 1y manufactured but which, nevertheless, is efficient and neat-appearing at all times.

My invention contemplates the use of a commonly used trough-supporting member, or circle as it is usually called, with a slight modification together with a new and novel spring clip which is adapted to firmly embrace the curl of the trough. The spring clip is formed of a single piece of spring steel wire or the like. It is formed in such a manner that it readily adapts itself to variations in size and shape of the particular trough and cannot come loose from the support. This clip comprises a pair of upwardly-extending crossed arms which are engaged by the trough-supporting member, the clip being ing the crossed arms to position them in proper relation to said member.

The above objects and features of my despecific emvice, as well as the details of a bodiment thereof. will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of a trough with my improved supporting device mounted in assembled relation with respect to the trough; and

Fig. 2 is a view of the outer portion of a segment of the trough showing more clearly the details of my improved spring clip.

It is common practice in the art to use a trough-supporting member or circle, which is adapted to be adjustably attached to a hanger secured to the roof, in conjunction with some sort of clip or fastener which passes over and embraces the curl on the "and 1 and the spring clips associated with the member by spring- 7 .and is also provided Outer P of the tr ugh. The circle usually takes a standard form similar to that disclosed herein, except that the outer hook thereof, which co-operates with the particular fastener being used, has 'a larger opening thanthat disclosed herein. The circle" and'the associated fastener comprise separate and distinct elements, and are usually sold as separate elements. Spring clips for use in connection with such h fore proposed, but when such clips are sold separate from the circle, and are kept together in quantities, they tend to tangle among themselves, thereby causing great expenditure of time and energy in separating. them when it is desired to use some of the clips. 'In accordance with my invention, I assemble the spring clip and circle so that the latter retains the former at all times, although, they may be readily dissembleda sold as separate elements if desired. Since each particular circle always has as sociated therewith its particular spring clip, are not kept separately in quantities, there will be no tendency of the various elements to tangle themselves and cause inconvenience and loss of time.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a portion ofa trough 1, which is curved in the circles have been hereto- I shaped so as to conform with and embrace- "thetrough. The circle has a substantially vertical portion 5, in which a series of holes 6 are prov1 ded for supporting the device in var ous positions. As is well known, the

portion 5 of the circle with its holes 6 lfiggg adapted to be supported by means of a hanger (not shown), which is attached to the roof with holes, so that bolts or other fastening devices may be passed through the holes of the hanger andcircles to rigidly connect them. The circle is also provided with a hook 7 which is adapted to embrace the inner edge 2 of the circle. A. hook 8 is also provided on the outer endof the circle but, in the present instance, form:=

'5. opening and under the this hook so as to have a smaller opening 9 than is usual in such devices. Normally, the opening 9 is large enough so that the associated fastening element is slipped through the hook. Circles are usually made as castings, but may be made in any other suitable manner such as by stamping or forging suitable material. It will be understood, of course, that-the circle of my device may be of any suitable type.

The improved spring clip 10 of my device comprises a single piece of spring metal, such as spring steel wire, which is bent to provide a looped hook portion 11, a pair of parallel arms 12 and 13, and a pair of upwardly-extending crossed arms 14: and 15. As is clearly shown on the drawing, the spring-clip is adapted to be associated with the circle in such a manner that the hook 8 passes around the crossed portions of armsl l and 15. The opening 9 is not sufiiciently large to enable the crossed portions of double wire thickness to .be passed therethrough. It is, therefore, necessary in assembling the two elements to either force single wire thicknesses of the clip through opening 9, manipulating the clip to its desired position, or to spring the arms 14 and 15 with relation to each other so as to pass them through the hookportion of the circle. It will be seen that the opening 9 is not absolutely necessary in my device, but I prefer to have a small opening not only for ease in assembling my device but also so that prior art clips, passed through the opening, used with thecircle of my device. a The circle, of

times after the two elements have been as.-

. of the spring clip may the curl of the trough, snugly to afford a firm support. It will be apparent that the force exerted on arms 12 and 13, due to the tendency to separate the clip from the circle.

.a hook portion which are adapted to be may be readily course, retains the clip at all sembled. The curl-embracing portion 11 H be readily forced'over and embraces the same j but self-adjustable without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is to be understood, therefore, that my invention is not to be limited by the specific disclosure of the single embodiment contained herein, but is to be limited only as is necessary in view of the prior art reflected by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A spring clip for fastening a trough to a, trough supporting member, comprising a single piece of spring material bent to form for engaging said trough, a pair of substantially parallel arms extending away from said hook portion, and a pair of crossed arms extending at an acute angle toward the top of said hook portion for engagement by said supporting member at their crossed portions.

I 2. spring clip for fastening a trough having a curled edge toa trough supporting member having a hooked end, comprising a single piece of spring material bent to form a hook portion conforming in shape with said curled edge for engaging the same, a pair of substantially parallel arms extending away fromsaid hook portion, and a pair of crossed arms extending at an acute angle toward the top of said hook portion for engagement by the hooked end of said'supporting member at their crossed potions. I

' AUGUST D. KUMPF.

.sion imposed thereon when the clip is sprung 1 over the curl of the trough, will have no ten- In fact, due to the novel form of the spring 7 clip, the tension exerted on arms 12 and 13 will have a tendency to ther through the hook 8 of the circle. this connection,

- workmen cannot exert such excessive force on arms 12 and 13 as would cause the clip to Due - become dissembled from the circle.

' also to the novel form of adjusts itself to any variations in the size of the trough or its curl. Italso, in so adjusting itself, retains its general shape and force the arms furit will alsobe apparent that my clip, it readily presentsat all times a neat-appearing, veiiicient device. I v V While I have shown a single preferred embodiment of my invention,

apparent that various changes in the details of construction of the device may be made it will be readily I i 

